The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutLandcpe Beautificatn Cmte - 01/21/09 CITY OF PALM DESERT �� MINUTES - LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING . Wednesday, January 21, 2008 — 11:30 a.m. Public Works Conference Room — Palm Desert Civic Center 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, California 92260 I. Call to Order 11:30 a.m. II. Roll Call Present: Absent: Chairman H. Spencer Knight Vice-Chairman Lauri Aylaian CITY COUNCILACTiON Member Martin Alvarez Member Homer Croy APPROVF,D� _nrNrF� Member Mark Greenwood RECEIVED -� OTHCR Member Richard S. Kelly MF,rTi G UATF 3-a�-o Member Connor Limont AYF.S:�� Fi ' Member Justin McCarthy Np�S: Nonr°, T—� Member Bob Spiegel AI3SENT: N��_ r Member Janis Steele (alt. Jay Niemczak)A13STAIN:�an_�. VERIFIF,U t3Y:-- �_ �K.�� Also Present: Original on File with City Clerk's Office Diane Hollinger, Landscape Specialist Hart Ponder, Code Compliance Manager Dave Yrigoyen, Director of Redevelopment Bertha A. Gonzalez, Recording Secretary III. Oral Communications Member Spiegel inquired on the status of the removal of the Tamarisk trees that are located at the center of San Pablo Avenue, between Fred Waring Drive and Magnesia Falls Drive. Member Greenwood informed the Committee that although the concept was approved by the Landscape Beautification Committee, the item was not submitted to the City Council for approval due to a conflict of schedules with the construction of the pool. Since the pool project has been postponed, staff will bring the item for CIP discussion. At the Committee's request, staff will move the project forward. APPROVED MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE January 21, 2009 IV. Consent Calendar A. MINUTES of the Regular Landscape Beautification Committee Meeting of January 21, 2009. Approve as presented. Upon a motion by H. Spencer Knight, second by Member Kelly, and 10-0 vote of the Committee Board, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented. V. Consent Items Held Over None VI. New Business A. Desert Willow Golf Resort Entry Parkinq Lot Perimeter Landscape Renovation Chairman Knight presented the Committee with the tentative landscape plan of the Temporary Parking Lot at Desert Willow. Highlights of the presentation included: • Reasonable amount of topography • Removal of Palm trees • Keeping existing trees along Country Club Drive • Incorporate trees to screen the parking lot, including some of the trees that were removed from Westin Starwood Project • Incorporate boulders • Plant palette mimics that of the west side • Signage will be similar to the west side Committee concerns included: • Estimated cost of the project is $343,000; funds are located in the 241 Desert Willow account. The Committee reminded staff that although funds are budgeted in the 241 Desert Willow account, they still generate from the general fund account • The Committee did not believe it to be fair for the City to construct a temporary parking lot when no one else would be allowed • Member McCarthy asked the Committee that if the project was funded by the Redevelopment Agency, will the concern be mitigated. The Committee believes it will. 2 APPROVED MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE January 21, 2009 • Code Compliance requests some action be taken in regards to the unpleasant appearance of the fence. After a brief discussion, the Committee directed staff to reduce the cost of the project by 50% (approximately $150,000) and asked the Redevelopment Agency's consideration to provide the funds. Upon a motion from Member Spiegel, second by Member Kelly and a 10-0 vote of the Committee Board with staff member Dave Yrigoyen opposing, staff was directed to move forward as requested. B. Desert Willow Golf Resort Clubhouse Entry Landscape Renovation Chairman Knight presented the preliminary landscape renovation plan of the Desert Willow Clubhouse entry. The plan is intended to upgrade the entry in an effort to make it more understandable to visitors. The most significant changes included the removal of the ballads and the placement of a valet station and center island. The Committee's main concern was with the turning radius of the redesign; it seemed to be very tight. Although staff informed the Committee that alterations will be done accordingly, the Committee requested that the traffic engineer review the plan and provide guidance to staff. Other members believe that adequate signage could also accomplish the job without having to implement major modifications. Member Alvarez informed the Committee that the Fire Department might also need to review the plans in order for them to determine if they will be able to enter the Clubhouse in case of an emergency. Upon a motion by Member McCarthy, second by Member Croy and a 10-0 vote of the Committee Board, the item was continued. VII. Continued Business A. Monterev Avenue Median Landscape and Art Proiect Liqhtinq Member Greenwood clarified some of the information given to City Council at the last Council Meeting regarding the TEA Grant for the Monterey Art and Landscape Project. In order for the City to receive the $600,000 grant, the City has to spend the equivalent amount of $600,000, making it a $1.2 million project. The art piece itself will cost approximately $250,000, which the Committee believes should be funded by the Art in Public Places Department. The project needs to be awarded by June 22, 2009. 3 APPROVED MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE January 21, 2009 Staff informed the Committee that if a plan with an engineer's estimate of $1.2 million can be developed and approved, should the actual bid be lower, the TEA Grant might still be awarded The project does not include the Monterey Exchange Project, which once all the approvals have been given, it is estimated to start at end of 2010 and completed in 2011. Other options included: • Abandoning the project completely, which has been done before • Not include the art piece and use all the money on the landscape Upon a motion from Member Kelly, second by Member Spiegel and a 10-0 vote of the Committee Board, staff was directed to develop a plan with an engineer's estimate of $1.2 million and present it to City Council for approval. VIII. Old Business None IX. Reports and Remarks - Diane Hollinger informed the Committee that a new Arbor Day Committee has been formed in order to better celebrate Arbor Day. The Committee is made up of 10 members from various department/organizations, including Landscape Services Division, Parks and Recreation, Planning, Horticultural Society, Coltege of the Desert, and Parks Commission. First and foremost, Arbor Day will be a month-long celebration instead of the usual one-day celebration. The tentative schedule is as follows: • April 5th — The Garden Tour at the Visitors Center • April 11 th — Civic Center Celebration • April 22"d — Tree Planting at Ronald Reagan Elementary • April 25t" — Earth Day at The Living Desert - Hart Ponder, Code Compliance Manager, presented the Committee with updated photos of the status of the green dye that was used on residential yards. The dye seems to be doing well and although it is not a permanent solution, it has resulted in a cost effective one. 4 APPROVED MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE January 21, 2009 X. Adjournment With no further business or discussion, and Landscape Beautification Committee Board concurrence, the meeting was adjourned at 12:25 p.m. H. Sp cer ' ht, Landscape Manager ATTEST: ertha A. G zalez, ecordin ecretary Landscape Beautification Co mittee 5